The Courtyard Centre

July is Independent Retailer Month, which is a nationwide campaign to celebrate small, independent shops. When Middleton Hall Trust renovated the small farm buildings to the east of the Tudor Barn, it was decided that the structures would be converted into small business units and let to independent retailers. This project was awarded the Norah Marshall Award by the Rural Development Commission for its contribution to providing employment in rural areas. The businesses that occupy the units have changed over time and are varied.

The small farm buildings in this area were first constructed in the early 19th century by Sir Francis Lawley, tenant of Middleton Hall. They were all single storey brick structures with tiled roofs. In the 1850s, the next tenant, John Peel, added more to this complex but he is also believed to have replaced some of those that had been constructed by Lawley. His structures were also built in brick with tiled roofs but some of his new structures were two storey and some contained hay lofts.

East side of Tudor Barn at Middleton Hall showing farm buildings, c.1892. Photograph taken by J. H. Pickard.

By the time that Middleton Hall Trust was formed in 1980, most of these buildings were in a severely ruined state. Some had already fallen down completely and others were beyond repair and had to be demolished.

In 1983, Middleton Hall Trust carried out a temporary repair to the north range of the small buildings, which left them open-fronted on the south side. That area was then used to house artefacts on display as part of an Agricultural Machinery Museum.

Partially restored farm buildings at Middleton Hall with tractors on display as part of the Agricultural Machinery Museum, November 1983. Photograph taken by Beryl Ellerslie.

In 1988, the project to fully restore the farm buildings began. This project was completely undertaken by volunteers and was led by Jack Burns. It was paid for exclusively by donations, primarily from members. The range on the north side was converted into three retail units, whilst the south range was converted into six retail units. The easternmost of these six units was considerably changed because it had only been a very small narrow structure. This change was required to create a functional unit. At the eastern end of the northern range, a new eastern range was constructed, which contained three retail units. Part of the area of this new range had, at least from the late 19th century, been occupied by piggeries. However, it had never extended further south than the southern wall of the north range and no part of it had ever had any significant structures present before the construction by the Trust.

The new Courtyard Centre was completed in 1990 and officially opened by Digby Michael Godfrey John Willoughby, 12th Lord Middleton, who also unveiled a commemorative plaque.

The Courtyard Centre at Middleton Hall, 2024. Photograph taken by Steve Davies.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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